People are aware of how home improvement projects can give more value to the homes of people nowadays. The common things that could add more worth to your home would be an improved landscape, a well developed driveway or patio, and a sprinkler system.
It is always a good thing for you to add a sprinkler system in your home.

By spending a minimum amount, people can already install a sprinkler system in their homes with the landscape that they have at home. A sprinkler system is actually helpful in creating a better lawn and can also help people conserve more water in their community. The nice thing about a sprinkler system is that it automatically waters your lawn by scheduling a certain time of the day for this task to be fulfilled. A sprinkler system is actually used by people as they wake up and as they go home from their offices.

There is no need for you to worry about going home late because sprinkler systems are the ones who will water your plants when you are not around. With a sprinkler system around, your lawn will not experience any disease or have fungi in the process. You can even save on your water bills since sprinkler systems are actually designed to manage the amount of water that should be used for the lawn.

Putting up an improved landscape in your home is one thing people should be doing as well.

Having a more improved landscape would actually help people in conserving the amount of water that they are using every single day. If you have an improved lawn, you will only need to place fescue grass which only needs less amount of water all the time. You can always place an eco-friendly shrub in your lawn to lessen the amount of water that you will be using. You can even place plants that can handle humidity and would only require a small amount of watering everyday.

An improved lawn is actually made with gravel in which home owners would prefer to choose the one with the green color. Green colored gravel would not require any amount of water to be poured on the lawn. One of the reasons why landscaping is being practiced in a residential property is because it can make a home more beautiful in appearance.

In improving your home, putting up a concrete driveway and patio is also very important.

There are actually cheaper options available to people when it comes to installing a concrete patio or driveway to make their homes more beautiful and appealing in the process. Putting up a concrete patio however would require home owners to look for an expert who can help them with what they need. A concrete driveway or patio is also known to help people address the concerns that they have during the days when the weather is too unpredictable. Installing a concrete patio is actually used by people if they want to have a good parking space for their cars and add more value to their homes.

The good news is that exterior home improvement projects are actually very easy to accomplish and even cheaper in the process. Each money spent on doing home improvement projects are actually considered a long term investment.

Since people have always wanted to make their homes more beautiful and valuable, putting a sprinkler system, landscape, and a concrete patio should be done accordingly. This post was brought to you by MOFGA.org. Visit their site for more info.

Is it getting around that time where you need to paint your home? Do you need to install a new sink? Do you want to do some serious renovations? Or maybe you just want to do some simple maintenance work around the home?

Well, it all depends. To answer this question, you’ll need to ask three more questions: Well, before you hire a contractor it is important that this will depend on these three different questions:

1. Do you have the money?
2. Do you have the time?
3. Do you have the skills to handle it on your own?

Do you have the money?

One of the most important things to consider is whether or not you can actually afford a contractor in the first place.

A lot of people think that they can save money by not hiring a contractor, but more often than not this isn’t true. When you handle a project on your own, you can end up spending a fortune because you need tools, materials, and if you make a mistake you will have to re do it.

So if you are planning on doing any kind of home improvement project, it is vital to ensure you have the budget to get it done right.

Do you have the time?

When you are planning on doing a home renovation project, it is always important to ensure you have the proper amount of time to tackle it. It does not matter what kind of project you have, always make sure you estimate the time it will take you to finish it.

Do you have the right skills?

You will need to be honest with yourself because if you ask anyone if they are a good driver, they will most likely say they are the best. Do not do this when assessing your handyman skills because you can end up paying for this in the end.

A lot of people think they have the skills to handle a project because they watched a home renovation show, but it takes years of experience to tackle those kinds of projects. So do not be fooled.

When you are doing an intensive project such as renovating your kitchen or your bathroom, it would be a good idea to hire a professional. These are the most important rooms in the home so you will want to ensure that they are well taken care of.

The Alternatives

There are a lot of alternatives you can think about regarding home renovation projects. You can handle the project on your own if you think you have the skill and experience or you can hire a professional to do it right for you the first time around. It is up to you what you want to do when you are handling your home renovation project.

If you are planning on installing a driveway, then you will obviously want to make sure that it will look great, so here is some steps to ensure that will happen. One of the biggest factors that will make sure that your concrete will look great is the workmanship that went into it as well as the quality of materials used.

Knowing the best mix of concrete is the way to go, if you want your driveway to look great. It is a good idea to use an air-entrained high performance concrete mix, if you want your drive way to look great and also last forever as well.

It will cost you a bit more to have a high performance concrete mix, but it will be well worth your money because it will last forever and you will not have to pay for repairing cracks as well. Also, another thing you will want to think about when installing a driveway is the deicing chemicals, the climate you are in, the freeze and thaw conditions, and the amount of traffic it will see. Having a low-permeability and durable mix is the way to go in order to meet these kinds of conditions.

What You Should Look For

According to AAA Concreting, the first thing you should have with your concrete is to ensure it has a compressive strength of around four thousand PSI.
It needs 6% of air content as well. If you live in an colder climate, then you will want to put a lot of thought into air entrainment, which is basically where air is trapped in the mixture of concrete, it is not good to have a lot as this will allow moisture into the concrete which will eventually cause cracks.

If you want strong and durable concrete for the driveway, then keep your water and cement ratio under 0.50.

Putting in Extra Water into the Mix
It is important not to add extra water, because this will dilute the concrete and make it weaker and more likely to crumble.

Using the Correct Slump
When you are paving a driveway, make sure that the slump is around four inches. Do not have a slump greater than four inches, as this can cause issues and make the concrete weak.

Having the Correct Sub Grade
You will want to make that the soil is of a good composition and that it has been compacted properly, because a sub grade is important for having a strong concrete driveway, as this will provide it support. You will want to remove the soft material such as crushed rock and gravel, before you begin paving. A lot of states will have very expansive soils. Depending on the expansiveness of the soil, you may want to add anywhere from two to eight inches of crushed rock that can be used as a sub grade. If you do not know what kind of soil you have, then just go and talk to a professional soil engineer to help you out.

There are times when we need to decide if we are going to get pavers for our patio and driveway or we should go have the stamped concrete. Here we are going to talk about the two, their durability and how different they are when it comes to key factors such as earthquake resistance.

We have encountered a lot f questions regarding which is the better material: is it pavers or should we have the concrete?

As contractors who have been involved in so many projects, we must say that the pavers are actually the better choice between the two. It is arguably more durable and it can also give your property additional points in terms of aesthetic value.

If you are going to ask when was the first time pavers were used, the answer goes hundreds of years back the European and Spanish villages were they were used to create the most exquisite pathways. Up until now, we are using them all over the world.

Why are pavers better?

They fare better in earthquakes

We all know that California could experience some earthquakes that can have devastating results and this is the main reason why you need to make use of a material that will prove to be resistant to earthquake. Those that are made of solid materials like concrete could not stand a chance against this calamity and they will surely get destroyed.

Put in mind that when an earthquake happens and strikes and area where the structures are generally made of concrete, they will really crack.

If we are just going to talk about their level of resistance to earthquake, pavers are surely the winner. They are made to shift with the movement of the earth.

An earthquake won’t easily crack it because it will simply adjust. This also means that you don’t have to have a great deal of maintenance just to make sure that it stays in its best conditions.

Wide array of choices

It is true that when it comes to the design, stamped concrete can easily imitate what you can have with paving stones. But why will you have the imitation if you can have the original?

By choosing pavers, you are allowing yourself a wider array of choices when it comes to the colors and designs that you can choose. There will be no problem in customizing the whole thing because your imagination is practically the limit.

It is highly durable

One of the things that you have to know about using stamped concrete is that the color will eventually fade, and a lot sooner than pavers would. It is especially true in areas where the sunshine can easily bleach away whatever color you have in them.

Take note that the color in stamped concrete are simply applied on top, which makes it more vulnerable to discoloration. Pavers have their color all over them that you don’t have to worry about such things.

Installation

There have been a lot of questions pertaining to how different pavers and concrete are when it comes to their installation process. The process of installing pavers is actually faster than concrete because all you have to do is have the stones in their proper place.

If you are going to install concrete pathways, you will be required to wait for the concrete to cry completely before you can use it.

If there is a deadline set for you, you should really choose pavers. There are a lot of reviews on paver contractors and you can learn more there about how long the job can be completed.

Replacement and repair

If we are going to touch on the way to deal with damages in these materials, it is clear that we can do it more easily with pavers.

If you find chips and cracks in the paving stones, all you need to do is replace the affected parts.

But if the same thing happens to the patio that is made of concrete, you might have to replace the whole thing.

If you are planning to renovate some of the outdoor spaces of your home, pavers are the most recommended materials.

1. Trees Dying? Get Help Quick!

A dying weak tree is more sensitive than a baby who needs care 24/7. We usually have no idea what to do at times when a tree is falling sick or is visibly getting weaker by the day. The first and foremost thing one must do is to get a professionals help. Arborists are people who have technical knowledge in the area and know exactly what to do and how to do it. Alternatively you can request the advice of your local tree professionals. Sometimes the root cause is inadequate supply of water and other times it’s only because you decided to skip the pruning or fertilizing part. Either way it has consequences and a fallen tree is going to cause you more trouble than you can imagine.

2. Pruning and mulching

Determining the root cause and then fixing it is the real deal. Pruning, as most of you have heard is essential to a tree’s health. If not done properly or in time can have grave effects on the tree itself. To save an already dying tree experts believe that a proper prune might work. The right area and the perfect technique is one way to help a tree grow stronger.

3. Under watering

Tree’s health is directly linked to the water supply. The more moisturized the better, if the weather is dry and the tree is young then without adequate supply of water the tree’s health is going to deteriorate fast. So, if the tree is dying you better check the watering system and keep the tree hydrated at all times. It might just work for you if you’re careful and observant.

4. Proper Fertilization

Another way to help a tree is to make sure your tree is not sprayed or sprinkled with some wrong fertilizers. The tree might need good fertilizers to grow but sometimes the root cause is the wrong dosage or the wrong type of fertilizers. You must check with an arborist before jumping to conclusions. To help a dying tree you might want to consider fertilizing as it would help with the growth.

If you want to become a professional landscape artist or a landscaper, there are several training that you need to undergo for you to become qualified and credited to belong to the said field. Attending landscaping class is one way for you to learn everything there is to know about landscaping. Here, you will also be taught about the proper ways of landscaping, the methods, and techniques, to name a few.

If you are interested in topics that are associated with landscaping, then you better learn them from someone who is an expert in this field. Though it is possible for you to get some ideas about landscaping by reading magazines containing information about landscaping, if you want to go deeper and learn about the twist and turn of the said field, then the best choice for you is to attend landscaping classes. In a landscaping class, you will be taught about how to do a landscape properly through training. You will be trained by doing the actual act of landscaping. This is the best and the most efficient way of learning.

Perhaps, if you will attend a landscaping class, you will just find yourself surprised by how such thing can be an excellent option for you. For those who are into botany, landscaping classes will be a class that will interest them the most as this is a way of them expressing their love for plants. For those who are not into plans, this is your chance to learn how to appreciate existence as well as the essence of plants.

Landscaping class will most likely teach you about the following:

About the health of a plant, the quality of the soil you have as well as the types of fertilizers that you should use.

About tools that are used in landscaping such as the servicing tractors and a whole lot more.

How to make the best landscaping design by using only the shrubs and ground covers.

How to open up a landscaping business as well as specialty landscaping

How you can learn all of this things at home.

If you already finished attending landscaping classes and survive the training that comes with it, you will be given certification qualifying you to become a landscaper. And once you already have the necessary credential you need to become a professional landscaper, it is now possible for you to:

Start your own business or perhaps get hired and begin your career on one of the landscaping firms available.

Finish the training for the duration of six months or if you want to develop your skills and knowledge further as a landscaper, you can proceed to the next level of training.

You will never find landscaping as a hard subject if you have even a little background information about flowers and plants. Everything starts with the basic so having basic knowledge about plants and flowers will give you a boost. On the other hand, if you do not have any idea about it, no need to worry, since landscaping classes will teach you everything you need to learn about landscaping.

With the accordance to the level of knowledge you have bout landscaping, there are several levels of classes you can opt for. When it comes to landscaping, the most basic landscaping classes that you will most likely to have will be about how to identify certain kinds of plants, and how can you make use of them for various landscaping designs.

One of the most important things that you need to know about landscaping is paying attention to the types of plants that work well on different kinds of climates. An example of this is that if you like a certain kind of plant, however, can only be planted on areas or places that have warm climates yet yours is a cold one; you need to find another plant that will be suitable and can work well in your climate.

Apart from knowing about the types of plants that works in a certain climate, another important thing that you should learn about landscaping is the quality of soil that you need to have since soil also varies depending on the climate. You need to bear in mind that the soil you have must be filled with nutrients in order for the plant that you will plant on it to live and survive. If you are going to take classes about landscaping, you need to expect topics like this to be included.

When your lawn isn’t growing like it should be, it can be exasperating. Here are three of the most common issues I encounter with my clients:

Lack of Sun

One of the top reasons for a lack of growth is a lack of sunlight. This may seem obvious, but the challenge is in fixing it. When a lawn sees an awful lot of heavy shade, it can be difficult to find a solution and get it some much needed solar energy.

Many of the most common types of grass in South Florida needs at least four hours of direct sunlight each day in order to grow properly. This varies according to the specific species of grass, of course, so feel free to give me a call if you have a specific question.

If your lawn doesn’t get a lot of direct sunlight, there are strains of grass here in Miami that can thrive in the shade. There are also other types of ground cover that can be used in place of lawn, so sometimes the best option is to simply give up the idea of having a “traditional” lawn and move to another form of outdoor décor. This can also save you money on your water bill!

Too Little Water… or Too Much

Too little water is obviously a problem… but so is too much.

Your lawn needs water to grow, but the trick is in knowing how much water your lawn requires. Overwatering can be just as perilous to your grass’ welfare as a lack of water, stunting growth and resulting in shallow roots. I’ve personally seen plenty of well-meaning homeowners overwatering their grass and keeping it from developing properly.

Some lawn owners water often but they don’t water deep enough, leaving the roots out of water exposure range and simply grazing the tops of the grass blades. Sometimes, the rain provides more than enough water to keep your lawn healthy—but oftentimes regular watering is necessary.

Cutting Too Short

A final reason as to why grass won’t grow is that it is being cut too short.

Ideally, blades of grass shouldn’t be cut by more than 30 percent each time the lawn is mowed. If more of the lawn is cut, the roots can actually go into “shock” and may not produce growth for a couple of weeks. Some grass that is cut too short or snipped too close may stop growing for a month or more. Because the grass is more exposed, it is probable that other problems – like weeds – could take over and ruin the yard.

One of the realities of life here in South Florida is dealing with Hurricanes and Tropical Storms. Fortunately, it’s been several years since we’ve had a direct hit. But last month, Isaac passed close enough to trigger many South Floridians to put up their shutters and stock up at the grocery store. But in addition to the basics, what else must you do to get your yard ready? Below are four steps to keep in mind.

Keep the Trees Trimmed

One of the first things to consider as hurricane season approaches is the proper approach to trimming trees. This prevents serious damage to landscaping during a tropical storm or hurricane, so ensure that thinning trees, shrubs and bushes are trimmed back to prevent breakage when the high winds take hold.

The goal is to make sure that the wind can properly move through the trees, shrubs and bushes of the yard without uprooting the whole thing or tearing off branches and sending them through windows. When a plant is thinner, the wind moves more easily through it.

It’s also important to ensure that any branches that hang over the house are cut back. Tree limbs can land on the house during powerful wind and can cause significant damage. Branches near telephone lines and any other sorts of cables or wires should also be removed. If you need help, give us a call!

Examine Fences and Other Outdoor Structures

If there are fences, they should be examined as a hurricane approaches. Any loose boards should be secured and any weak posts should be reinforced. This is an often overlooked area of yard preparation during hurricane season—but it can result in flying debris if you aren’t careful, so take care to ensure that fences are up to par.

Batten Down the Hatches

Any loose object can become a dangerous projectile when high winds hit, so make sure that everything you leave outside is properly secured. Any broken furniture or unnecessary extras in the yard should be taken to the garbage heap. Potted plants should also be stored indoors.

If you’ve got any questions, please get in touch with us today. Don’t wait until the day before a storm arrives!